Improvement in combination locks



H. CLARKE.

Combination Locks.

'Patented`Feb. 4,1873.

v FIGAR- YMFL@ vn.

" naman STATES PATENT. @ma

HENRY, oLAnKE, or BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

IMPROVEMENTIN COMBINATION LOCKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 135,523, dated February4, 1873. A

To all whom it may concern.-

Be lit known that I, HENRY CLARKE, of the city of Baltimore and State ofMaryland,have invented certain Improvements in Combina` Vtion Locks, ofwhich the following is a specication; and I do hereby declare that inthe same is contained a full, clear, and exact description of my saidinvention, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to theletters of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to locks so constructed Vthat certain parts must beplaced in some relbearingagainst their inside surfaces, and operated bymeans ot' an outside movable band fitted to the exterior of the saidsleeve, which band, when raised, 4so operates certain of the tumblers,and 'brings them in such position Vwith reference to the saideccentrically-formed -plate, that the latter, at rst locked by thetumblers, is made to partially revolve, admitting of the disengagementof the fastening devices ,of the lock. My invention further consistsinmeans adopted whereby the upper disk is steadily secured to thelock-case, and to a device or combination of devices whereby thetumblers are forced laterally against the interir suiface'of the sleeveaforementioned, and wear of the operative parts provided for; and myinvent-ion, lastly, consists in an arrangement of devices whereby aspring-hook, pivoted within the lock case and held by theeccentrically-formed plate so as to interlock with a latch separate fromthe lock, is adapted to be disengaged from the said latch when, by meansof the joint operation of the tumblers and the said eccentrically-formedplate, the latter is moved from contact with the said spring-hook.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, Figurel is a top view of my improved combination lock. Fig. 2 is across-section of the same upon line y. Fig.

3 is a view of the under side of the lock, the lower plate beingremoved. are views of detached parts of the invention.

Similar letters of reference indicate'similar parts of the invention inall the figures.

A represents the case or outside covering ot' the lock. Bis a sleevepassing through the upper plate of the case. The lower edge ot' the.sleeve is toothed, the teeth, represented by a, litting within spacesexisting between similar teeth formed within a horizontal plate, b, theoffice of which will be hereinafter fully explained. One or more ot' theteeth on the 'sleeve are turned outwardly, where they project below theplate b, for the purpose of fastening the plate and sleeve together. Gis an ornamental band, placed upon the outside ot' the sleeve B, andissecured from turning upon the sleeve by means of the projecting stop cand theslot within which it is inserted. This stop, while preventing anylateral movement ofthe band independently ofthe sleeve, does notinterfere with the longitudinal motion ot' thesaid band, as the slot inwhichthe stop rests extends tothe lower edge of the band. D is a disksituated within the band C, at the outer end `of the same, and isprovided with a suitable number of perforations in which the tumblers dand d rest. E is a shaft `passing through ,the disk D, securing it tothe baclr plate of the case A. The shaft E may be lengthened so as toform a convenient method of fastening the lock to the drawer or trunk. Fis a circular plate placed upon the shaft E as abearing for the ends ofthe tumblers el d', and has notches in the edge for that purpose. G isa' spring, formed by cutting one end ot' a sheet-metal cylinder intotapering strips equal in number to that ot the tumblers d d', andbending the strips downward so as to bring their ends nearly to thecircular pla-te F. The purpose of this spring is to give sufficientfriction tothe tumblers d d to prevent their too ready movement, andalso to provide for any wear of the tumblers or adjacent parts. H is aWasher occupying the space between the plate F and the back plate ofthecase A. The tumblers d are provided with grooves f, which are of suchdepth and at such distance from the disk D as to allow the teeth in theplate b to pass without coming in contact with said tumblers when Vintheir lowest position. The

Figs. 4, 5,` and 6 protruding.

tumblers d have the grooves f at a greater distance from the disk,therebyrequiring the tumblers to be raised a certain height to bring thegrooves in a line with the horizontal plate b and allow the passage ofthe teeth on the plate past the tumblers, through their respect ivegrooves. The tumblers are each provided with false notches g. Thepurpose ot' these notches is to mislead any one endeavoring to discoverthe relative positions to which the tumblers d and d must be brought toadmit of the rotary motion of the plate b, sleeve B, and band C. Thetumblers d d are provided with the pins h, which engage a projectingvportion of the interior of the band C. These pins serve as means bywhich the tumblers are moved as the band G is raised above the disk D. Iis a hook, pivoted at k, and furnished with the spring l and thumb-piecem.

K is a latch secured to the lid or door of the trunk or other object towhich this locking device is applied. The latch passes through anopening in the case A, and is caught by the hook I. The plate b has aprojection, b, on the side next to the hook I, which projection, when inthe position shown in Fig.3of the drawing, comes in contact with thehook, keeping it from a too-far-backward movement, by reason of whichits disengagement from the latch might occur. To provide sufficientspace for the movement of the hookI the plate must be moved into theposition shown by the dotted lines. rlhe movement of the plate b ischecked by its coming in contact with the sides of the case A.

Supposing the different parts of the lock to be in the positions shownin Figs. 2v and 3 of the drawing, wherein the device is represented asbeing locked, and it is desired to unlock it, the operation is asfollows: The band C is raised above the disk D, carrying the ends of thetumblers d and d through the disk. The band is then replaced, leavingthe tumblers The tumblers d, which are also represented in Fig. 1 by theletters A, D, F, and H, are then forced into their original positions,bringing the grooves f opposite the teeth on the plate b, the grooves inthe tumblers d', represented by B, C, E, and Gr, being already in thatposition. The band G with the connecting parts is now free to turn untilthe plate b is brought to the position indicated in Fig. 3 by the dottedlines. The projection b upon the plate b is thus removed from contactwith the surface of the hook I, which can now be moved by the pressureof the thumb upon the piece m,'so-as to releasethelatchsl. A lid, L, isarranged, as shown in` Fig. 1, to cover the disk D and ornamental bandC, and to slide back upon a pivot after the manner of the ordinarysliding cover to somekey-holes. In Fig. 4 thecover is shownfslipped overthe band C. The use `of both lids is to protect the parts of the lockcoveredfrom damage by blows, and vto keep them clean and free from dust.

A person unacquainted with the combination of tumblers necessary to beforced to their original positions after the entire number has beenraised would be unable to unlock the device. Y

The arrangement of this lockcan be altered to suit the different objectsto which it may be applied. For instance, the plate b maybe irnmediatelyconnected with a bolt corresponding with the bolt of an ordinary lock;or other modifications, in shape and con-struction, may be made, theprinciple hereinshown at the same time remaining unchanged.

It is at once apparent that this lock is applicable to trunks, valises,desks, or any other object or place whereto locks are usually ap'-.plied, and that it has no keywhich may be misplaced or lost.'

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and wish tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is 1. The movableecent'rically-formed toothed plate b b', sleeve Bftumb'lers d d', andcase A, relatively arranged substantially as herein described, for thepurpose specified.

2. The case A and bolt E, in combination with the sleeve B, band G, diskD, and tumblers d d having the pins h, substantially as and for thepurpose herein set forth.

3. In combination with the tumblers d d', the spring G, disk D, circularplate F, and washer H, substantially as herein shown, for the purposespecified.

4. The spring-hook I m, pivoted Within the y case at 7t,`aud latch K, incombination with the plate b b', adapted to be made stationary ormovable by means of the tumblers d d operatin g with it2 substantiallyas herein set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereto subscribed myname in the city ofBaltimore this 20th day of December,in the year of our Lord Y HENRYCLARKE..

- Witnesses:

WM. T. HOWARD, THOMAS MURDocH.

